PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTESTANTS SET EYES ON JUNIOR TOURISM MINISTER TITLE
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; June 21, 2025
Battle lines have been drawn as three young women dazzled in round one of the Junior Minister of Tourism Public Speaking Competition held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, St Ann.
The top three finalists are Jullisa Dujon from Mannings School, Kaira Bowman from Montego Bay High School, and Carleader Lewison representing Hampton School. All three students will vie for the Junior Tourism Minister title in the upcoming weeks, and the winner will represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Youth Congress later this year.
Donovan White, Director of Tourism, said, “This annual competition allows young minds to delve into critical industry themes and develop creative solutions for our sector’s future. Our tourism success depends on nurturing the innovative spirit of our youth, who will ultimately shape and strengthen the strategies that keep Jamaica competitive globally.”
(This year’s participants in the Junior Minister of Tourism Public Speaking Competition pose with their certificates)..
Lucretia Green, Tourism Information Centre Manager at the Jamaica Tourist Board, expressed her satisfaction with the calibre of presentations delivered by students in round one of the competition. “I am immensely proud of how well the students represented themselves and their schools today. There is a certain degree of bravery that is required for public speaking, and I commend each student for their courage,” she said.
This year marks the third time that the JTB is collaborating with Sandals International for the competition.
“Tourism is one of the cornerstones of our country’s development, and at Sandals Ochi, we are proud to support initiative that educate and inspire our youth,: said Carol Bourke, General Manager of Sandals Ochi Beach Resort. ‘Hosting the Junior Minister of Tourism Competition and welcoming students from eleven schools was truly an honour. All our students were winners today.”
Lyndsay Isaacs, Regional Public Relations Manager for Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, expressed enthusiasm about supporting the initiative again.
“Investing in young talent aligns perfectly with our commitment to Jamaica’s tourism future. Understanding tourism’s multifaceted nature – from hospitality to agriculture, transportation to entertainment – is crucial for our country’s continued success,” she said.
(Current Junior Tourism Minister Taj Melbourne was the Master of Ceremonies for the day’s proceedings).
The public speaking competition is open to students between the ages of 15-17 years, and students must be members of their school’s Tourism Action Club to participate. The topics for this year’s staging focus on sustainable practices, digital transformation in tourism, and regional connectivity.
